Systems and methods for non-human account tracking

ABSTRACT

Systems and methods for non-human account tracking are disclosed. According to one embodiment, a method may include: retrieving, by a tracing tool computer program executed by a computer processor, a plurality of records for a computer application from an application database, the plurality of records comprising a computer application name, one or more Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) associated with the computer application, and an identification of a plurality of non-human accounts that have access to the computer application; storing, by the tracing tool computer program, the plurality of records as raw data in a relational database; determining, by the tracing tool computer program, that each of the retrieved plurality of non-human accounts is in an account vault; associating, by the tracing tool computer program, the non-human accounts with the retrieved one or more APIs; and storing, by the tracing tool computer program, the association in a relational database.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to Indian Patent Application Number202211004668 filed Jan. 28, 2022, the disclosure of which is herebyincorporated, by reference, in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

Embodiments relate generally to systems and methods for non-humanaccount tracking.

2. Description of the Related Art

Computer programs and applications may have their own accounts. Theseaccounts are used by the applications to perform automated actions forusers. Because these accounts are often unsupervised, or have littlesupervision, management of these accounts is problematic.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Systems and methods for non-human account tracking are disclosed.According to one embodiment, a method for non-human account tracking mayinclude: (1) retrieving, by a tracing tool computer program executed bya computer processor, a plurality of records for a computer applicationfrom an application database, the plurality of records comprising acomputer application name, one or more Application ProgrammingInterfaces (APIs) associated with the computer application, and anidentification of a plurality of non-human accounts that have access tothe computer application; (2) storing, by the tracing tool computerprogram, the plurality of records as raw data in a relational database;(3) determining, by the tracing tool computer program, that each of theretrieved plurality of non-human accounts is in an account vault; (4)associating, by the tracing tool computer program, the non-humanaccounts with the retrieved one or more APIs; and (5) storing, by thetracing tool computer program, the association in a relational database.

In one embodiment, the tracing tool computer program may also receiveone or more tools associated with the computer application andassociates the retrieved one or more tools with the non-human accounts.

In one embodiment, the tracing tool computer program may retrieve therecords using a Phyton wrapper.

In one embodiment, the tracing tool computer program may access theaccount vault using one of the plurality of APIs.

In one embodiment, the account vault may include a password for at leastone of the non-human accounts.

In one embodiment, the method may also include generating, by thetracing tool computer program, a notification for each of the non-humanaccounts that is not in the account vault.

In one embodiment, the plurality of records may also includeentitlements data for the non-human account. The method may furtherinclude verifying, by the tracing tool computer program and using theentitlements data, that the non-human account is entitled to access oneor more service.

According to another embodiment, a method for monitoring non-humanaccount information may include: (1) receiving, by a tracing toolcomputer program executed by a computer processor, a request to monitora non-human account; (2) retrieving, by the tracing tool computerprogram, one or more Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) and/orone or more tools associated with the computer application from adatabase; (3) attempting to authenticate, by the tracing tool computerprogram, to each of the one or more APIs and/or one or more tools; and(4) publishing, by the tracing tool computer program, a result of theattempt.

In one embodiment, the database may be a relational database.

In one embodiment, the result may include a status of the authenticationattempt.

In one embodiment, the result may include an identification of acorrective action being taken.

In one embodiment, the request to monitor may be received duringapplication onboarding.

According to another embodiment, a method for non-human account recoverymay include: (1) receiving, by a tracing tool computer program executedby a computer processor, a request to auto-recover a non-human account;(2) determining, by the tracing tool computer program, that access tothe non-human account is revoked or locked; (3) retrieving, by thetracing tool computer program, a password for the account from anaccount vault; (4) determining, by the tracing tool computer program,that the password has expired; (5) retrieving, by the tracing toolcomputer program, password expiry information for the password from theaccount vault; (6) resetting, by the tracing tool computer program, thepassword with a new password; and (7) sending, by the tracing toolcomputer program, an alert to an interested party.

In one embodiment, the request to auto-recover a non-human account maybe received in response to an issue with the account.

In one embodiment, the method may also include replacing, by the tracingtool computer program, the password in the account vault with the newpassword.

In one embodiment, the step of resetting the password may include:generating, by the tracing tool computer program, a new access token;generating, by the tracing tool computer program, the new password forthe new access token; and replacing, by the tracing tool computerprogram, the password in the account vault with the new password.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present invention, the objectsand advantages thereof, reference is now made to the followingdescriptions taken in connection with the accompanying drawings inwhich:

FIG. 1 depicts a system for non-human account tracking according to anembodiment;

FIG. 2 depicts a method for non-human account tracking according to anembodiment;

FIG. 3 depicts a method for monitoring non-human account informationaccording to an embodiment;

FIG. 4 depicts a method for non-human account recovery according anembodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments are generally directed to systems and methods for non-humanaccount tracking.

Embodiments may identify and provide the status of any non-humanaccounts used by an application by extracting information for suchaccounts from repositories and server files associated with a projectidentifier, and mapping those non-human accounts to tools and APIs thatmay be used with the non-human accounts. In one embodiment, an ActiveDirectory LDAP Application Programming Interface (API) may be used toprovide a holistic view of the non-human accounts.

Embodiments may facilitate tracking a non-human account ID owned by aspecific application module. Embodiments may manage non-human accountownership and may fix or resolve any issues relevant to a non-humanaccount ID in using the mapping.

Embodiments may provide information regarding the non-human account ID,such as whether the account is secure, when there are issues with thenon-human account being expired, locked, etc. Embodiments may facilitateautomated recovery of the non-human account ID and the sending of alertsbased on user instructions.

Referring to FIG. 1 , a system for non-human account tracking isprovided according to an embodiment. System 100 may include userelectronic device 110, which may be any suitable electronic device thatmay provide app-based or browser-based user interface 115. Examplesinclude computers (e.g., workstations, desktops, notebooks, tablets,etc.), smart devices (e.g., smart phones, etc.), Internet of Things(IoT) appliances, etc.

User interface 115 may interface with tracing tool computer program 122,which may be executed by electronic device 120. Electronic device 120may be any suitable electronic device, including servers (e.g., physicaland/or cloud-based), computers, etc.

Tracing tool computer program 122 may interface with one or moredatabase, such as application database 130, account vault 132, andentitlements database 134. Application database 130 may maintain aroster of applications used by an organization, accounts that may accessthe applications, APIs and tools used by the application, etc. Accountvault 132 may maintain a list of non-human accounts and passwords usedby those non-human accounts.

In one embodiment, each account may have an access token, and the accesstoken may be associated with a password.

Relational database 140 may store records retrieved from applicationdatabase 130, such as the application name, APIs, tools, services, etc.

Tracing tool computer program 122 may also retrieve entitlements datafor records retrieved from application database 130 from entitlementsdatabase 134. Entitlements database 134 may maintain entitlements orpermissions for the non-human accounts to access applications, APIs,services, etc. Tracing tool computer program 122 may verify that thenon-human account is entitled to access the data, services, etc.requested.

Referring to FIG. 2 , a method for non-human account tracking isprovided according to an embodiment.

In step 205, an application may be onboarded to an application databaseusing, for example, the application's application identifier or aproject identifier for the application.

In step 210, a tracing tool computer program may retrieve records forthe application, such as the application name, APIs, tools, and/orservices associated with the application, non-human accounts that accessthe application, etc. and, in step 215, may store those records as rawdata in, for example, a relational database.

In one embodiment, the tracing tool computer program may use a wrapper(e.g., a Phyton wrapper or similar) to retrieve the records.

In step 220, for each non-human account identified, the tracing toolcomputer program may connect to an account vault and may determinewhether the non-human account is in account vault using, for example, anAPI. In one embodiment, the account vault may store non-human accountidentifiers, names, etc.

In step 225, if the non-human account is in the account vault, in step230, the tracing tool computer program may associate the non-humanaccount with the APIs, tools, and/or services used by the application.In step 235, the tracing tool computer program may store the associationbetween the non-human account and the APIs, tools, and/or services in,for example, a relational database.

In step 225, if the non-human account is not in the account vault, instep 240, a report or notification may be generated.

Referring to FIG. 3 , a method for monitoring non-human accountinformation is provided according to an embodiment.

In step 305, a tracing tool computer program may receive a request tomonitor a non-human account by, for example, non-human account name orother suitable identifier. The request may be made, for example, duringapplication onboarding.

In step 310, the tracing tool computer program may retrieve associatedAPIs, tools, and/or services for the non-human account from, forexample, a relational database such as that described above.

In step 315, the tracing tool computer program may attempt to connect tothe identified APIs, tools, and/or services. In one embodiment, thetracing tool computer program may use account credentials retrieved fromthe account vault for the non-human account. For example, the tracingtool computer program may attempt to authenticate to the APIs, tools,and/or services, log in to the APIs, tools, and/or services, etc.

In step 320, the tracing tool computer program may write the results ofthe connection attempt, and in step 325, may publish or otherwise makethe results available in, for example, a log. The log may indicate ifthe non-human account is active, whether there is an issue with thenon-human account, any action(s) being taken to resolve the issue, anestimated time for correction, and may provide a link to details. Thedetails may provide detailed reasons for failure, actions taken, etc.Examples of actions taken may include resetting the password, recoveringthe account, etc.

Referring to FIG. 4 , a method for non-human account recovery isprovided according to an embodiment. In step 405, a tracing toolcomputer program may receive a request to recover a non-human account.For example, the recovery request may be an auto-recover request thatmay be triggered whenever the monitoring process identifies an issuewith the non-human account.

In step 410, the tracing tool computer program may access logs for thenon-human account, such as whether the monitoring process has identifiedthat access to the non-human account has been revoked or locked.

In step 415, if the access to the non-human account is revoked orlocked, in step 420 the tracing tool computer program may retrieve apassword for the non-human account from, for example, the account vault.

In step 425, the tracing tool computer program may determine whether ornot the password has expired. If the password has expired, in step 430,the tracing tool computer program may retrieve password expiryinformation from the account vault and, in step 435, may reset thepassword or set a new password for the non-human account. For example,the tracing tool computer program may replace the expired password inthe account vault with the new password. It may then send an email alertto any interested parties.

In another embodiment, the tracing tool computer program may create anew access token for the account and may set a new password for theaccess token. It may then store the password in the account vault.

If the password has not expired, in step 440, the tracing tool computerprogram may notify any interested parties that the non-human account islocked. The tracing tool computer program may attempt to unlock thenon-human account by, for example, updating the password, requesting anunlock from an administrator, etc.

In one embodiment, the reason for the non-human being locked may beprovided, such as a number of unsuccessful login attempts to thenon-human account that exceeds a threshold, suspected fraudulentactivity involving the non-human account, etc.

Although multiple embodiments have been described, it should berecognized that these embodiments are not exclusive to each other, andthat features from one embodiment may be used with others.

Hereinafter, general aspects of implementation of the systems andmethods of the invention will be described.

The system of the invention or portions of the system of the inventionmay be in the form of a “processing machine,” such as a general-purposecomputer, for example. As used herein, the term “processing machine” isto be understood to include at least one processor that uses at leastone memory. The at least one memory stores a set of instructions. Theinstructions may be either permanently or temporarily stored in thememory or memories of the processing machine. The processor executes theinstructions that are stored in the memory or memories in order toprocess data. The set of instructions may include various instructionsthat perform a particular task or tasks, such as those tasks describedabove. Such a set of instructions for performing a particular task maybe characterized as a program, software program, or simply software.

In one embodiment, the processing machine may be a specializedprocessor.

In one embodiment, the processing machine may be a cloud-basedprocessing machine, a physical processing machine, or combinationsthereof.

As noted above, the processing machine executes the instructions thatare stored in the memory or memories to process data. This processing ofdata may be in response to commands by a user or users of the processingmachine, in response to previous processing, in response to a request byanother processing machine and/or any other input, for example.

As noted above, the processing machine used to implement the inventionmay be a general-purpose computer. However, the processing machinedescribed above may also utilize any of a wide variety of othertechnologies including a special purpose computer, a computer systemincluding, for example, a microcomputer, mini-computer or mainframe, aprogrammed microprocessor, a micro-controller, a peripheral integratedcircuit element, a CSIC (Customer Specific Integrated Circuit) or ASIC(Application Specific Integrated Circuit) or other integrated circuit, alogic circuit, a digital signal processor, a programmable logic devicesuch as a FPGA, PLD, PLA or PAL, or any other device or arrangement ofdevices that is capable of implementing the steps of the processes ofthe invention.

The processing machine used to implement the invention may utilize asuitable operating system.

It is appreciated that in order to practice the method of the inventionas described above, it is not necessary that the processors and/or thememories of the processing machine be physically located in the samegeographical place. That is, each of the processors and the memoriesused by the processing machine may be located in geographically distinctlocations and connected so as to communicate in any suitable manner.Additionally, it is appreciated that each of the processor and/or thememory may be composed of different physical pieces of equipment.Accordingly, it is not necessary that the processor be one single pieceof equipment in one location and that the memory be another single pieceof equipment in another location. That is, it is contemplated that theprocessor may be two pieces of equipment in two different physicallocations. The two distinct pieces of equipment may be connected in anysuitable manner. Additionally, the memory may include two or moreportions of memory in two or more physical locations.

To explain further, processing, as described above, is performed byvarious components and various memories. However, it is appreciated thatthe processing performed by two distinct components as described abovemay, in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention, beperformed by a single component. Further, the processing performed byone distinct component as described above may be performed by twodistinct components. In a similar manner, the memory storage performedby two distinct memory portions as described above may, in accordancewith a further embodiment of the invention, be performed by a singlememory portion. Further, the memory storage performed by one distinctmemory portion as described above may be performed by two memoryportions.

Further, various technologies may be used to provide communicationbetween the various processors and/or memories, as well as to allow theprocessors and/or the memories of the invention to communicate with anyother entity; i.e., so as to obtain further instructions or to accessand use remote memory stores, for example. Such technologies used toprovide such communication might include a network, the Internet,Intranet, Extranet, LAN, an Ethernet, wireless communication via celltower or satellite, or any client server system that providescommunication, for example. Such communications technologies may use anysuitable protocol such as TCP/IP, UDP, or OSI, for example.

As described above, a set of instructions may be used in the processingof the invention. The set of instructions may be in the form of aprogram or software. The software may be in the form of system softwareor application software, for example. The software might also be in theform of a collection of separate programs, a program module within alarger program, or a portion of a program module, for example. Thesoftware used might also include modular programming in the form ofobject oriented programming. The software tells the processing machinewhat to do with the data being processed.

Further, it is appreciated that the instructions or set of instructionsused in the implementation and operation of the invention may be in asuitable form such that the processing machine may read theinstructions. For example, the instructions that form a program may bein the form of a suitable programming language, which is converted tomachine language or object code to allow the processor or processors toread the instructions. That is, written lines of programming code orsource code, in a particular programming language, are converted tomachine language using a compiler, assembler or interpreter. The machinelanguage is binary coded machine instructions that are specific to aparticular type of processing machine, i.e., to a particular type ofcomputer, for example. The computer understands the machine language.

Any suitable programming language may be used in accordance with thevarious embodiments of the invention. Also, the instructions and/or dataused in the practice of the invention may utilize any compression orencryption technique or algorithm, as may be desired. An encryptionmodule might be used to encrypt data. Further, files or other data maybe decrypted using a suitable decryption module, for example.

As described above, the invention may illustratively be embodied in theform of a processing machine, including a computer or computer system,for example, that includes at least one memory. It is to be appreciatedthat the set of instructions, i.e., the software for example, thatenables the computer operating system to perform the operationsdescribed above may be contained on any of a wide variety of media ormedium, as desired. Further, the data that is processed by the set ofinstructions might also be contained on any of a wide variety of mediaor medium. That is, the particular medium, i.e., the memory in theprocessing machine, utilized to hold the set of instructions and/or thedata used in the invention may take on any of a variety of physicalforms or transmissions, for example. Illustratively, the medium may bein the form of paper, paper transparencies, a compact disk, a DVD, anintegrated circuit, a hard disk, a floppy disk, an optical disk, amagnetic tape, a RAM, a ROM, a PROM, an EPROM, a wire, a cable, a fiber,a communications channel, a satellite transmission, a memory card, a SIMcard, or other remote transmission, as well as any other medium orsource of data that may be read by the processors of the invention.

Further, the memory or memories used in the processing machine thatimplements the invention may be in any of a wide variety of forms toallow the memory to hold instructions, data, or other information, as isdesired. Thus, the memory might be in the form of a database to holddata. The database might use any desired arrangement of files such as aflat file arrangement or a relational database arrangement, for example.

In the system and method of the invention, a variety of “userinterfaces” may be utilized to allow a user to interface with theprocessing machine or machines that are used to implement the invention.As used herein, a user interface includes any hardware, software, orcombination of hardware and software used by the processing machine thatallows a user to interact with the processing machine. A user interfacemay be in the form of a dialogue screen for example. A user interfacemay also include any of a mouse, touch screen, keyboard, keypad, voicereader, voice recognizer, dialogue screen, menu box, list, checkbox,toggle switch, a pushbutton or any other device that allows a user toreceive information regarding the operation of the processing machine asit processes a set of instructions and/or provides the processingmachine with information. Accordingly, the user interface is any devicethat provides communication between a user and a processing machine. Theinformation provided by the user to the processing machine through theuser interface may be in the form of a command, a selection of data, orsome other input, for example.

As discussed above, a user interface is utilized by the processingmachine that performs a set of instructions such that the processingmachine processes data for a user. The user interface is typically usedby the processing machine for interacting with a user either to conveyinformation or receive information from the user. However, it should beappreciated that in accordance with some embodiments of the system andmethod of the invention, it is not necessary that a human user actuallyinteract with a user interface used by the processing machine of theinvention. Rather, it is also contemplated that the user interface ofthe invention might interact, i.e., convey and receive information, withanother processing machine, rather than a human user. Accordingly, theother processing machine might be characterized as a user. Further, itis contemplated that a user interface utilized in the system and methodof the invention may interact partially with another processing machineor processing machines, while also interacting partially with a humanuser.

It will be readily understood by those persons skilled in the art thatthe present invention is susceptible to broad utility and application.Many embodiments and adaptations of the present invention other thanthose herein described, as well as many variations, modifications andequivalent arrangements, will be apparent from or reasonably suggestedby the present invention and foregoing description thereof, withoutdeparting from the substance or scope of the invention.

Accordingly, while the present invention has been described here indetail in relation to its exemplary embodiments, it is to be understoodthat this disclosure is only illustrative and exemplary of the presentinvention and is made to provide an enabling disclosure of theinvention. Accordingly, the foregoing disclosure is not intended to beconstrued or to limit the present invention or otherwise to exclude anyother such embodiments, adaptations, variations, modifications orequivalent arrangements.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for non-human account tracking,comprising: retrieving, by a tracing tool computer program executed by acomputer processor, a plurality of records for a computer applicationfrom an application database, the plurality of records comprising acomputer application name, one or more Application ProgrammingInterfaces (APIs) associated with the computer application, and anidentification of a plurality of non-human accounts that have access tothe computer application; storing, by the tracing tool computer program,the plurality of records as raw data in a relational database;determining, by the tracing tool computer program, that each of theretrieved plurality of non-human accounts is in an account vault;associating, by the tracing tool computer program, the non-humanaccounts with the retrieved one or more APIs; and storing, by thetracing tool computer program, the association in a relational database.2. The method of claim 1, wherein the tracing tool computer programfurther receives one or more tools associated with the computerapplication and associates the retrieved one or more tools with thenon-human accounts.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the tracing toolcomputer program retrieves the records using a Phyton wrapper.
 4. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the tracing tool computer program accessesthe account vault using one of the plurality of APIs.
 5. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the account vault comprises a password for at least oneof the non-human accounts.
 6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:generating, by the tracing tool computer program, a notification foreach of the non-human accounts that is not in the account vault.
 7. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the plurality of records further compriseentitlements data for the non-human account.
 8. The method of claim 7,further comprising: verifying, by the tracing tool computer program andusing the entitlements data, that the non-human account is entitled toaccess one or more service.